Chronic Fatigue Service

Chronic Fatigue Service

The Chronic Fatigue Service in Hackney and is one of the largest such services in the UK. Formerly based at St Bartholomew’s Hospital, the Chronic Fatigue Service is provided jointly by East London Foundation Trust and Barts Health NHS Trust. The service celebrated its 25th anniversary in 2009.

The Chronic Fatigue Service provides a comprehensive, multidisciplinary out-patient service for people with chronic fatigue syndrome, (CFS) sometimes known as myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME).

Important changes to the Chronic Fatigue Service

The Chronic Fatigue Service run by East London NHS Foundation Trust (ELFT) will be closing on March 31st 2018 and is now closed to all new referrals.

The current service is commissioned by the three East London Clinical Commissioning Groups, City & Hackney, Tower Hamlets and Newham. In December 2016, ELFT informed the three CCGs that the Trust would not continue to provide the Chronic Fatigue Service beyond the end of the 2017/18 Financial Year and, at the time of posting, a decision has been made by the CCGs not to re-commission dedicated Chronic Fatigue Services in the three Boroughs.

If you feel that you may need treatment for Chronic Fatigue then we recommend you discuss treatment options with your GP

How to refer

The Chronic Fatigue Service run by East London NHS Foundation Trust (ELFT) will be closing on March 31st 2018 and is now closed to all new referrals.

The current service is commissioned by the three East London Clinical Commissioning Groups, City & Hackney, Tower Hamlets and Newham. In December 2016, ELFT informed the three CCGs that the Trust would not continue to provide the Chronic Fatigue Service beyond the end of the 2017/18 Financial Year and, at the time of posting, a decision has been made by the CCGs not to re-commission dedicated Chronic Fatigue Services in the three Boroughs.

If you feel that you may need treatment for Chronic Fatigue then we recommend you discuss treatment options with your GP

What this service does

Our Approach

We believe that the best care possible follows on from us:

Making an accurate diagnosis;

Assessing the patient using an integrated approach; and then,

Deciding with the patient, the approach that has the best opportunity of improving their health.

A thorough assessment involves the GP providing appropriate blood tests and other tests to ensure there is no other possible cause for ill health. Our medical staff will provide a full physical examination of our patients, take a full history of their illness including an assessment of sleep, possible stresses, and of their fears feelings and beliefs regarding their condition which may be affecting them.

Possible treatments available include: specialist medical care and guided self-help, referral to physiotherapy, clinical psychology, or participation in one of the group programmes available

What outcomes can I expect from the Service?

We have found that approximately three-quarters of our patients with Chronic Fatigue significantly improve or recover with treatment in our clinic. Research has suggested that a quarter recover and half significantly improve. For some people, recovery may not mean a return to previous lifestyles, if this contributed to them becoming ill in the first place.